NYC w/ 5 & 7 year olds

[Anonymous]

I'll be in NYC for a few days next week with my 7 & 5-year-old boys. I will be flying solo for part of the trip and a family member will join for the last half. We are staying near the south end of Central Park. What are some good family-friendly restaurants near there?

Any other recommendations for things to do? Our only plans are the Central Park Zoo and seeing the Lion King on Broadway on Saturday afternoon. I am not very familiar with New York from a kid-friendly angle and would love any tips.

[Anonymous]

Also, do you take your kids of those ages in taxis without a car seat or booster?

[Anonymous]

Explore Central Park - take a carriage ride, check out the playgrounds, check if the Carousel has reopened. Kids at that age are great in NYC since it is very easy to amuse them. Take the subway, take the tram to Roosevelt Island. Check out Serendipity, go to the History Museum and Planetarium. Walk through Times Square to the M&M and Disney store. Tons of options to keep everyone occupied.

[Anonymous]

Go to Sarabeths on Central Park South for brunch. Also go to Transit Museum and Natural history museum. Personally I’d skip the Central Park zoo unless your kids are super into zoos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you take your kids of those ages in taxis without a car seat or booster?

My 6yo was tall enough that he didn’t need a booster in the cab, but you could throw a bubble bum or two in a backpack to use if necessary.

[Anonymous]

We did the Statue of Liberty when my kids were that age, although I think they liked the ferry ride the most! Just beware the lines can be long to go through security and waiting for the return ferry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, do you take your kids of those ages in taxis without a car seat or booster?

I take my 6 and 8yos to NYC on the regular and we just take the subway/bus everywhere.

In addition to everything previously mentioned my kids love the Camp store on 5th avenue, karaoke in K-town (there are a couple bars that open in the early afternoon and it's not such an adult bar scene at that hour), the seaglass carousel in battery park, little island, Chelsea market.

[Anonymous]

Driving back after spending 4 days in NYC with my 6 yo DD. The Slime Museum and the Museum of Ice Cream were huge hits. Also the Lego store on 5th Ave.

[Anonymous]

Personally...I think the Gazillion Bubbles Show and Winnie the Pooh might be better options than The Lion King with children as young as yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally...I think the Gazillion Bubbles Show and Winnie the Pooh might be better options than The Lion King with children as young as yours.

Why is that? I took my oldest when he was only 4 and he sat through the entire show without saying a word except for, when there was a pause, asking, "It's not over yet, is it?" This is a child who normally cannot sit still or stop talking to save his life. My 5YO, on the other hand, is very focused and chill and has no problems sitting still and watching something like this.

--OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Driving back after spending 4 days in NYC with my 6 yo DD. The Slime Museum and the Museum of Ice Cream were huge hits. Also the Lego store on 5th Ave.

I had not heard of the Slime Museum-- thanks for the tip!

--OP

[Anonymous]

Museum of Natural History and the Discovery Room there (you can easily spend the whole day).
Central Park Children's Zoo.
Kid friendly restaurants around 57th - can't think of any.
The Oyster Bar at GCT can be fun for kids. Demonstrate the acoustical effects of whispering into the corner of the vaulted underground space. When the kids are tired of waiting for their meal or after their meal, they can burn energy wandering around just outside the restaurant. I can't remember if the Transit Museum still has a store there, but it's a fun place for kids to check out MTA toys and swag. If they like trains, just checking out the trains and platforms of the Metro North trains can be absorbing. There is surprisingly a lot for kids to check out at GCT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Sarabeths on Central Park South for brunch. Also go to Transit Museum and Natural history museum. Personally I’d skip the Central Park zoo unless your kids are super into zoos.

Sarabeths for kids??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to Sarabeths on Central Park South for brunch. Also go to Transit Museum and Natural history museum. Personally I’d skip the Central Park zoo unless your kids are super into zoos.

Sarabeths for kids??

Sarabeth's is a crowded brunch place. It is not super fancy and serves waffles and pancakes. It is exactly the type of place New Yorkers take their kids for brunch. The Central Park South location has less of a neighborhood family vibe than the UWS locations (those are the only two I have been to regularly), but both are fine for kids.

Serendipity will also be fun for kids but it sounds like the OP is staying right near Sarabeth's so it is probably worth going to at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to Sarabeths on Central Park South for brunch. Also go to Transit Museum and Natural history museum. Personally I’d skip the Central Park zoo unless your kids are super into zoos.

Sarabeths for kids??

Sarabeth's is a crowded brunch place. It is not super fancy and serves waffles and pancakes. It is exactly the type of place New Yorkers take their kids for brunch. The Central Park South location has less of a neighborhood family vibe than the UWS locations (those are the only two I have been to regularly), but both are fine for kids.

Serendipity will also be fun for kids but it sounds like the OP is staying right near Sarabeth's so it is probably worth going to at some point.

You could do The Smith which isn’t too far and is kid friendly.